Matthew Bailey will likely have a chance to play on Sundays.
The first third of the college football season has been a rough one for Illinois' defense, but the unit hasn't been without its stars.
Senior safety Matthew Bailey has perhaps been the brightest spot among the Fighting Illini so far. Through four games, Bailey leads Illinois with 28 total tackles, 16 solo tackles and one interception. Among the rest of the Big Ten, Bailey ranks 10th in total tackles and solo tackles.
According to Pro Football Focus, Bailey is the second-highest-graded player on the Illini defense at 74.8. Only edge rusher Will Holmes, who is graded 79.6 by PFF, ranks higher among qualified Illinois defenders. Bailey is also the sixth-highest-rated safety in the Big Ten.
The 6-foot-2 defender's strong play so far this season has earned him some buzz ahead of next April's 2027 NFL Draft. Dane Brugler, a draft expert for The Athletic, was impressed with Bailey's performance during Saturday's 42-19 loss to the Ohio State Buckeyes.
"Matthew Bailey was outstanding working downhill in his run fits and finished with a game-high 14 tackles," Brugler wrote following the game. "At 6 feet 2 and 222 pounds, the Illini captain is almost linebacker sized and drives through the ball carrier to create stopping power at contact. Bailey is one of the top five senior safeties I’ve scouted in this cycle."
Ohio State Buckeyes wide receiver Brock Boyd (11) is knocked out of bounds by Illinois Fighting Illini defensive back Matthew Bailey (7) during the NCAA football game at Ohio Stadium in Columbus on Sept. 26, 2026. Against the Buckeyes, Bailey had a season-high seven solo tackles, 14 total tackles and a tackle-for-loss. The effort came on the heels of a big performance in Illinois' 48-10 win over Southern Illinois, in which Bailey ran an interception 88 yards back for a pick six.
Bailey was a three-star high school recruit out of Moline, Ill., and the No. 133-ranked safety in the Class of 2022. As a true freshman, Bailey played in all 13 games, tallying 10 tackles, three interceptions, two pass breakups and a fumble returned for a touchdown. The following season was disrupted by injury, though, and Bailey was forced to redshirt after missing all but one game.
Once he recovered, Bailey emerged as one of the best defenders on the team. He led the Fighting Illini in tackles in both the 2024 and 2025 seasons and was twice named an All-Big Ten Honorable Mention. This season, he was the only returning player in the nation to have led their team in tackling in each of the past two seasons.
Bailey has totaled 213 tackles, 12 pass breakups, seven tackles-for-loss, five interceptions, 4 forced fumbles and three fumble recoveries during his time in Champaign.
With defensive coordinator Bobby Hauck now out of the picture after mutually agreeing to depart from Illinois, a lot more pressure will fall on Bailey's shoulders as the leader of the Fighting Illini defense.
